Vibrating clamp product settler with interrupter

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for imparting vibrating motion to a package for settling of product wherein the vibrating action may be interrupted during continued operation of the driving means is disclosed. Interrupter linkage comprises a crank, action link and slide and is operative through alignment of the axes of the fixed pivot for the crank and the positionable pivot between the link and slide. Springs are utilized to give positive driving action to the package engaging clamp in one direction and to maintain the crank, link and slide and operating lever in the proper positions.

United States Patent Henry 51 Aug. 15,1972

[54] SVIBRATING CLAMP PRODUCT SETTLER WITH INTERRUPTER [72] Inventor: Nelson R. Henry, Decatur, Ga.

[73] Assignee: The Woodman Company, lnc.,

Decatur, Ga.

[22] Filed: June 18, 1970 [21] App]; No.: 47,309

[52] HS. Cl. ..259/72, 74/40, 141/75 [51 Int. Cl. ..B01f 11/00 [58] Field of Search ..259/72, DIG. 42; 53/126;

[56] v References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1 l/ 1943 Neuman ..259/DIG. 42 7/1958 Saalfrank ..74/ 40 4/1970 Gmur ..259/72 X 4/1955 Wise, Sr. ..53/126 2,705,585 1,412,774 4/1922 Collamer ..259/D1G. 41 2,144,046 l/l939 Cundall ..259/D1G. 42

Primary Examiner-walter A. Scheel Assistant ExaminerAlan l. Cantor Att0rney-Lowe and King ABSTRACT An apparatus for imparting vibrating motion to a package for settling of product wherein the vibrating action may be interrupted during continued operation of the driving means is disclosed. lnterrupter linkage comprises a crank, action link and slide and is operative through alignment of the axes of the fixed pivot for the crank and the positionable pivot between the link and slide. Springs are utilized to give positive driving action to the package engaging clamp in one direction and to maintain the crank, link and slide and operating lever in the proper positions.

6 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures VIBRATING CLAMP PRODUCT SETTLER WITH INTERRUPTER The present invention relates to packaging apparatus and, more particularly, to an improved apparatus for settling product in a package wherein (l) the settling action may be efficiently interrupted between each packaging cycle and (2) the amplitude otherwise regulated as desired.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the copending application entitled Vibrating Clamp Product Settler" in which I am named as coinventor with Donald R. Middour, Ser. No. 18,934, filed Mar. 12, i970, continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 714,862, filed Mar. 2 l 1968 and now abandoned, both applications assigned to the assignee of the present application there is disclosed and claimed an apparatus and method that improves the settling of product in a form and fill package by clamping and vibrating the package tube at the top and bottom of each package. The apparatus of that invention works well to give the desired-settling action to the product and to allow a product-free seal to be formed adjacent the top and bottom of each package. However, in that apparatus, the driving action is not capable of interruption or regulation, and thus, certain improvements along these lines have been found to be necessary or desirable.

It has been found highly desirable to interrupt the vibrating action to the clamp so that no vibration is imparted until the gripping surfaces have actually engaged the tube and the same is positively held against movement. Previously, there was an inevitable rubbing of the tube as the clamp came to full engagement while vibrating, which thereby caused deleterious stretching and distortion of the packaging film. Further, due to the uncertainty as to where in the vibration range the clamp would come into engagement with the tube, stretching, faulty registration and possible tearing would result and the settling action would vary from cycle to cycle. It is better as now proposed to engage the tube each time at the bottom of the stroke, so that no strain is placed on the tube and the walls of the package are bulged outwardly.

F urthennore, while maintenance of constant frequency vibrating action regardless of the speed of the packaging machine is best, it has been found to be desirable to regulate the amplitude of the vibrating clamp to give increased settling efficiency and to better suit different types of products. Also of importance, is the capability to move into and out of the vibrating action with an infinitely variable amplitude. This not only gives a range of vibration action for the increased efficiency, but also prevents excessive bouncing of the product in the package then being formed as the sealing jaws are coming together below the clamp. This is important to prevent an occasional stray piece of product being thrown up into the seal area.

Also, as explained in the earlier filed case, the settling action takes place during the time that the sealing jaws are moving upwardly on the return stroke in readiness to draw the next length of tube and thereby form the next package. As the tube is being drawn out by the sealing jaws and the package is being formed the vibrating clamp is moved away from the tube. Previously, the vibrating action to the clamp was unnecessarily maintained during this withdrawn or idling position. ln-' cidental advantages of reduced wear of parts and reduced noise level of the machine attributable to the vibrating clamp are gained by interruption. Considering these many aspects, it has been found to be highly advantageous to interrupt the driving force to the vibrating clamp, i.e., reduce the amplitude to zero, between each packaging cycle.

Thus, it is a main object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for settling product in a package by vibrating action, the amplitude of which may be selectively changed or regulated during the continued operation of the packaging machine.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a product settler wherein an interrupter for the vibrating action is provided and may be engaged and disengaged in a smooth fashion and over an infinitely variable amplitude.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide an interrupter linkage for a product settler that has simple crank, link and slide construction.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a vibrator system that operates independently of the packaging machine so that the vibrating action frequency may be maintained while the amplitude may be controlled regardless of the speed adjustment of the machine for different sized bags or the like.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION I ing a fixed main pivot, an action link carried by the crank and a reciprocal slide. The crank is constantly and continuously driven by an input lever and the slide is connected to the output in the form of package engaging means or clamp. The action link and slide are connected by a displaceable pivot which is positionable so as to align with the axis of the fixed pivot of the crank. When the crank is oscillated by the driving means and the axes of the displaceable and fixed pivots are aligned, the vibrating action is interrupted. To initiate the vibrating action in accordance with the present invention, the axis of the displaceable pivot is simply moved out of coincidence with the axis of the fixed pivot. This is done in a smooth, efficient manner without significant power loss, such as would occur with the use of clutches or other conventional power interrupters.

The operating lever for the slide is preferably shifted by a simple cam arrangement and spring means is provided to give a positive return driving force to the clamp to avoid a tendency for the linkage to float and thereby permits increased speed of vibration.

Most importantly, when utilizing the apparatus of the invention in the form and fill environment with a clamp forming the package engaging means, the amplitude of vibration is decreased in a smooth regression whereby the vibrating action moves to zero just as the package is to be sealed. This arrangement assures that the product below is not susceptible to being bounced or thrown into the area of the seal.

According to another feature of the invention, the reciprocating slide is attached to the frame for the clamp so that the form and fill tube is lifted during initiation of the vibrating action. This causes the sidewalls of the package above the clamp to be bulged outwardly to provide an increased cross sectional area for receipt of the product down the tube and to allow greater loosening of the product.

Still other objects and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in this art from the. following detailed description, wherein l have shown and described only the preferred embodiment of the invention, simply by way of illustration of the best mode contemplated by me of carrying out my invention. As will be realized, the invention is capable of other and different embodiments, and its several details are capable of modification in various obvious respects, all without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictrve.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 4 is a side view of the crank, action link andslide assembly shown in the position for imparting zero amplitude vibration; and

FIG. 5 is a side view of the crank, action link and slide assembly in a position for imparting vibrating actron.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION With reference now to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings,

there is shown an environment wherein the improved apparatus of the present invention can be applied with great advantage. Specifically, the apparatus may be applied to a form and till packaging environment wherein a continuous web of sheet material, such as glassine, Cellophane or polyethylene film, is formed into a continuous tube T and then into a series of pillow shaped packages P by cooperating sealing jaws S1, S2 (see FIG. 2). For a more detailed description of exactly how the tube T is made and packages P are formed in sequence, reference is made to the copending application mentioned above.

The product that is being packaged can be of any type of flowable material, such as potato chips, and it should be understood that the settling apparatus of the present invention is especially adapted to assist in packaging of all equivalent products of this type.

As set forth in the previous application, the step of settling is being performed by applying mechanical vibrating action to the tube T, which in turn, shakes and agitates the product within the tube to cause the same to nest into a compact charge. To do this, a clamp, generally designated by the reference numeral C, is provided and includes a pair of gripper members l6, 17 positioned on opposite sides of the tube T.

In operation, as best viewed in FIG. 2, a transverse bottom seal has just been formed by the sealing jaws S1, S2 to complete the package P. The withdrawal of the sealing jaws S1, S2 and the return upwardly to draw a new length of material to form the next package has begun in FIG. 2. The gripper members 16, 17 have just been brought into engagement with the tube T and the vibrating action to the clamp C is now initiated. In order to positively grip the tube T, each gripper member l6, 17 may be provided with resilient face members 18, 19 (see FIG. 2). The vibrating action of the clamp C is preferably initiated just after the gripper members l6, 17 have positively gripped tube T and after the sealing jaws S1, S2 have retracted. This prevents any deleterious rubbing or stripping along the tube T by the members l8, 19 since the clamp C is still at the moment of engagement. Also, it prevents any chance of rupturing the completed package P if the gripper members l6, 17 should pull the package P against the clamped relationship existing at the sealing jaws S1, S2.

The clamp C is supported by a frame F comprising a pair of spaced arms 20, 21 connected for movement together by a rigid cross member 22. The frame F is mounted for oscillatory movement about a pair of stub shaft mountings 23, 24 which extend outwardly from a front wall 25 of the packaging machine. The U-shaped gripper members are supported on the free end of the frame F by pairs of pivot mounts 26, 27, respectively.

A pneumatic cylinder 30, having a piston rod 31 and articulated yoke 32 is connected by attaching ears 33 to the gripper member 17. A connecting link 34 is provided between said gripper member 17 and the gripper member 16. Thus in response to operation of the cylinder 30, the clamp C is operative to engage both sides of the tube T and positively clamp the same as mentioned above.

A pair of springs 40, 41 (see FIGS. 1 and 2) are held between an angle mounting bracket 43 and the cross member 22 by an adjustable bolt and nut combination 44. The springs 40, 41 are preferably adjustable to extend a downward pressure on the frame F to urge the clamp C in the clockwise direction about its pivot point, as viewed in FIG. 2. This permits the downward or return stroke of the frame F and the clamp C to be positively induced in a resilient manner so that no floating" of the frame F is encountered. To explain, since the mass of the combined frame F and the clamp C is substantial and must be rapidly accelerated and decelerated during vibration, there is a need for the springs 40, 41 to keep the frame F urged in a single direction and thus stabilized. In this manner, the interconnecting parts are also always acting in the single direction under positive urging of the springs and are not subject to shifting back and forth at the connecting points. The springs 40, 41 also tend to have a cushioning effect and thereby eliminate excessive jerking of the clamp C at the upper and lower limits of the vibratory path.

Reciprocating slide 45 connected to the cross member 22 by integral yoke 46 and pin 47 serves to impart counterclockwise motion with substantially constant acceleration to the frame F, as indicated by the arrow 48 in FIG. 2. When the upper limit of travel is reached, the spring 40 counters the momentum and with a smooth transition moves the frame F downwardly about the pivots, as indicated by the arrow 49. At both limits of the stroke, the springs 40, 41 serve to stabilize the parts so that the tendency to float" and shifting at the pivots is eliminated. Moving in rapid succession in the directions 48, 49, the tube T and the package P with product inside is rapidly but smoothly agitated to settle the product into a compact mass without breakage and thereby enhance the overall packaging process.

A motor M is mounted behind the front wall and supplies the driving force to produce the reciprocating action for the slide 45. A belt drive 50 transmits the driving force of the motor M to a machine drive shaft 51 having a closed or captive cam 52 on the end thereof. The cam 52 is provided with a driving or operating am 53, which is thus reciprocated in the back and forth direction, as viewed in FIG. 2. A counter-weight 54 is preferably mounted on the shaft 51 to counteract the off-center weight of the cam 52 and its driving reaction.

To gain the interruption and regulating capability of the present invention, an interrupter assembly, generally designated by the reference numeral 60, is interposed between the driving arm 53 and the frame F of the vibrating clamp. As best shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, a

stationary pivot mounting sleeve 61 is positioned behind the front wall 25 by a mounting plate 62. A pivot shaft 63 extends through the sleeve 61 and affords a fixed pivotal mounting for a bell crank 64. A drive pin 65 is positioned to form one leg of the bell crank 64 and is received in a sleeve 66 on the end of the operating arm 53. A driven pin 67 delineates the other leg of the bell crank 64 and carries a driven action link 68 having a positionable pivot pin 69 mounted on the free end thereof. The pin 69 is in turn received in a mounting sleeve 70 of the reciprocating slide 45.

Of importance to the invention is that the positionable pivot pin 69 may be positioned coaxial with the fixed pivot pin 63, as shown in FIG. 4. In other words, the axes of the pins 69, 63 are capable of being placed in coincidence when the assembly 60 is positioned as in FIG. 4. Also, as shown in FIG. 2, the action link 68 and the slide 45 are axially aligned, i.e., positioned in a straight line (refer also to FIG. 4). As will be apparent, the action link 68 is the same length as the lower leg of the crank 64. With the axes being coincident as described, there is no reciprocation of the pivot pin 69 as the crank 64 oscillates along a path defined by arrow a (see FIG. 4) and through an angle 0 about a center position line 1. In other words, the link 68 is carried with the crank 64 as an integral part thereof as long as the pivot pin 69 is coaxial with the fixed pivot pin 63, and thus there is no vibratory movement imparted to the slide 45. This position (FIG. 4) of the interrupter assembly 60 thus defines the stop or interrupted mode of operation when'the clamp C is free of motion; i.e., when the amplitude of vibration is zero.

An operating lever or arm is attached to the slide 45 between'the ends thereof by a pivotal pin and sleeve assembly 76, as best shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The lever 75 is attached to a crank 77 at its lower end, which crank 77 is pivotal about a fixed pivot 78 in response to the positioning of follower roller 79 in engagement with cam 80. The cam 80 has a single lobe 81 and is mounted on an operating shaft 82 of the packaging machine so as to complete one full rotation during each packaging cycle. The follower roller 79 is constantly urged into engagement with the face of the cam 80 through the linkage just described, the interrupter assembly 60, the frame F, and the springs 40, 41, which prevents undesired floating action also at this point.

When it is desired to bring the clamp C into the active or vibrating mode, the cam lobe 81 is made operative in proper timed sequence with the sealing jaws S1, S2, to lift the lever 75 and consequently the slide 45 to a new raised position, as has been represented in FIG. 5 of the drawings. This new position moves the pin 69 out of coincidence with the shaft 63 so that said pin 69 now moves through the angle 6 as the crank 64 oscillates. When this is done, it can be seen that the slide 45 is given a reciprocal motion, as indicated by the arrow 0, (FIG. 5), which in turn moves the frame F about the pivot points of stub shaft mountings 23, 24 and thereby causes oscillation of the clamp C in an arc in the up and down direction.

Of importance is that the amount of upward positioning of the pin 76 determines the amplitude of movement, as represented by the symbol A in FIG. 5. It can be seen that if the slide 45 is moved upward further than represented in this Figure, the amplitude A would be progressively increased.

The height of the cam lobe 81 determines the maximum amplitude A to be applied to the vibrating action of the clamp C. Thus, by providing a cam with a higher lobe 81, the amplitude A may be easily increased, for example, and different settling characteristics possibly more suitable to another and harder to settle product can thus be accommodated.

The slope of the forward face 85 of the cam lobe 81 determines the time required to move from zero amplitude to the selected A amplitude. This progression to the greatest amplitude is important to permit the agitating action to start smoothly just as the sealing jaws S1, S2 are disengaged. A similar slope 86 is provided to taper off the vibrating action at the end of each vibrating cycle. This is important to prevent the product or potato chips in the package P from being too actively bounced or agitated so as to jump up into the new seal area being formed.

As previously mentioned and as can be seen in FIG. 2, the clamp Cengages the tube T at the same relative position and at the bottom of the vibration stroke during each packaging cycle due to the interrupter assembly 60 being in the rest mode. As the operating lever 75 is lifted, the slider 45 is also lifted thus tending to pivot the frame F in a counterclockwise direction about the pivot points of stub shaft mountings 23, 24 as viewed in FIG. 2. This causes the tube T held by the clamp C in the region where the initial settling action occurs, to bulge outwardly (see dotted line outline in FIG. 2) to provide an increased cross-sectional area for the product to occupy thus further increasing the settling efficiency. This bulging also releases any tension in the sides of the tube between the clamp C and tube former (not shown) that would tend to cause a tearing or stretching of the tube. Prior to the clamp C being released to drop the captive charge into the bottom of the new package, the operating lever 75 has been lowered thereby interrupting the vibrating action so that proper registry is established for forming the next seal at the top of the package P (FIG. 2).

In summary, an apparatus has been provided in accordance with the present invention wherein the vibrating action to a package is capable of being interrupted in a smooth and efficient manner while the driving means continues to operate. The crank 64, action link 68 and slide 45 arrangement operating to interrupt by alignment of positionable pivot pin 69 with fixed pivot pin 63 is particularly adapted for performing the interrupting function. Further, in the environment of operating a clamp C in a form and fill packaging operation, it is important that the amplitude of vibration can be reduced to zero whereby the tube T can be engaged and disengaged during a stop mode. The vibrating action is infinitely variable or regulated for efficient settling and smooth operation, and said action tapers off at the end of each vibrating period to prevent bouncing of chips into the sea] area. The springs, 40, 41 give positive driving action to the vibrating clamp C through the interrupter linkage of assembly 60 and the operating lever 75.

In this disclosure, there is shown and described only the preferred embodiment of the invention, but, as aforementioned, it is to be understood that the invention is capable of various changes or modifications within the scope of the inventive concept as expressed herein.

lclaim:

1. An apparatus for settling product in a package by vibrating action comprising means for operatively engaging said package, driving means for imparting vibrating action to said engaging means and interrupter means between said engaging means and said driving means for selectively changing the amplitude of said vibrating action during continued operation of said driving means, whereby said package may be disengaged when the amplitude of said vibrating action is reduced, said interrupter means comprising a pivotal crank having a fixed pivot and oscillated by said driving means, a driven link pivotally attached to said crank, reciprocal means attached to said package engaging means and to said link by a displaceable pivot, the axis of said displaceable pivot being positionable so as to align with the axis of said fixed pivot and means to move said axes out of and into alignment to respectively start and stop said vibrating action.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said reciprocal means comprises a reciprocating slide, an operating arm attached to said slide to move said displaceable pivot out of coaxial relationship therewith to vary the amplitude of said vibrating action.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said package is in the form of a tube of flexible material and said operating arm is operative to lift said package engaging means and said package to bulge the sides of said tube during initiation of said vibrating action toloosen the f 'lfiie oi ri l afri bii i iim 1 wherein said package engaging means comprises frame means mounted for vibratory motion, gripper means mounted on said frame means for movement toward and away from said package, means for so moving said gripper means, said gripper means positively gripping said package when moved toward said tube.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said frame means is pivotally mounted for oscillatory movement in an arc and spring means for urging said frame means about the pivot to insure positive driving action.

6. The combination of claim 1 wherein said reciprocal means comprises a slide, said link and said slide being in axial alignment and said link being coincident with the driving arm of said crank during the stop mode whereby said vibrating action is interrupted. 

1. An apparatus for settling product in a package by vibrating action comprising means for operatively engaging said package, driving means for imparting vibrating action to said engaging means and interrupter means between said engaging means and said driving means for selectively changing the amplitude of said vibrating action during continued operation of said driving means, whereby said package may be disengaged when the amplitude of said vibrating action is reduced, said interrupter means comprising a pivotal crank having a fixed pivot and oscillated by said driving means, a driven link pivotally attached to said crank, reciprocal means attached to said package engaging means and to said link by a displaceable pivot, the axis of said displaceable pivot being positionable so as to align with the axis of said fixed pivot and means to move said axes out of and into alignment to respectively start and stop said vibrating action.
 2. The comBination of claim 1 wherein said reciprocal means comprises a reciprocating slide, an operating arm attached to said slide to move said displaceable pivot out of coaxial relationship therewith to vary the amplitude of said vibrating action.
 3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said package is in the form of a tube of flexible material and said operating arm is operative to lift said package engaging means and said package to bulge the sides of said tube during initiation of said vibrating action to loosen the product for efficient settling.
 4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said package engaging means comprises frame means mounted for vibratory motion, gripper means mounted on said frame means for movement toward and away from said package, means for so moving said gripper means, said gripper means positively gripping said package when moved toward said tube.
 5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said frame means is pivotally mounted for oscillatory movement in an arc and spring means for urging said frame means about the pivot to insure positive driving action.
 6. The combination of claim 1 wherein said reciprocal means comprises a slide, said link and said slide being in axial alignment and said link being coincident with the driving arm of said crank during the stop mode whereby said vibrating action is interrupted. 